Snow fall in Rome, an unsually event for the Eternal City

An unusual icy winter blasting through Europe reached snow in Rome, blanketing the Italian capital of a rare four inches of snow. Last monday a spotless awakening surprised the eternal city of Rome. While schools were closed and public transportation paralyzed, residents of the Eternal City were given the rare opportunity to enjoy, ski, sled and build snowmen. Priests and students held a snowball fight in St. Peter’s Square and at the Colosseum.

The unexpected episode was chalked up to a Siberian weather system dubbed “the Beast from the East” which has plunged much of the continent into sub-zero temperatures.

The last time it snowed in Rome was in February 2012. On Monday, the temperature in Rome fell to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). Keep in mind that the average high in Rome for February is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).

Snow in Rome is rare. It last really fell here in 2012, after a hiatus of nearly 30 years.